MOVIE REVIEW: SHE SAID

 

The New York Times journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor publish a report that exposes sexual abuse allegations against powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The shocking story also serves as a launching pad for the #MeToo movement, shattering decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault and harassment.

Director: Maria Schrader

Cast: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Ashley Judd

Release Date: November 18, 2022

Genre: Drama, History

Rated R for language and descriptions of sexual assault.

Runtime: 2h 15m 

She Said is a smartly written and well acted journalistic thriller joining the ranks of Spotlight, The Post and All The President's Men.  Maria Schrader's film has a focused immediacy to the proceedings which makes the film engaging even during some of it's dryer stretches.  Its subject matter is well known so there aren't many surprises in store but it smartly focuses on the individual women's stories as the two reporters peel back the layers of the abuse.  Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan carry the film with relative ease while giving their characters a solid amount of depth to make you care about their journey which becomes more personal as it goes along.  Mulligan is a strong and forceful while Kazan is more demure but no less determined and motivated with the film perking up noticeably when they share the screen.  Patricia Clarkson and Andre Braugher have small but important supporting roles as no nonsense editors.  Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton and Ashley Judd have impactful scenes as victims recounting their experiences.  Additionally, the film uses a real recording of Weinstein berating a victim to chilling effect.  She Said is the type of film that's built on a series of conversations and its ability make it engaging with a predetermined finale is truly impressive.

A

MOVIE REVIEWS: EASY A

IN THEATERS

EASY A



Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter is re-imagined as a contemporary high school comedy in this tale of a scheming student who plots to give her popularity a boost by painting herself the easiest lay in school. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Will Gluck

Cast: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Lisa Kudrow, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson

Release Date: Sep 17, 2010

Rated: Mature thematic elements involving teen sexuality, language and some drug material

Runtime: 1 hr. 33 min.

Genres: Comedy

Review:

Quick witted, smart and just incredibly likable, Easy A should be Emma Stone’s coming out party. Director Will Gluck is fully aware that the film’s strength is it’s cast and script so he keeps it nice and tight. Gluck moves the story along at a brisk pace and he keeps Emma Stone front and center. Stone is more than up for the task and delivers her lines with a wonderful deadpan delivery. She brings an instant likeability and authenticity to her role. She owns the screen uses excellent comedic timing to keep you laughing throughout. The supporting cast is equally impressive. Thomas Haden Church, Lisa Kudrow, Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson all have limited screen time but each make an impression. Amanda Bynes is decent if a tad over the top as school Bible beater. Easy A is the type of movie that light while dealing with some interesting topics about the current world kids live in. It’s not a message movie and that’s alright. What it is is an incredibly funny comedy that’s gives movies like Mean Girls a run for its money. The wonderful Emma Stone keeps proving that she’s a force to be reckoned with in comedy.

A

Movie Reviews: ALL THE KING'S MEN

Saturday, September 23, 2006
Movie Reviews: ALL THE KING'S MEN
In theaters

ALL THE KING'S MEN



Louisiana governor Willie Stark (Sean Penn) wins his office by appealing to the common man and playing a little bit of dirty politics. But as he gains more and more power, Stark slowly becomes corrupted by the system he sought to change.

Cast Sean Penn, Jude Law, Patricia Clarkson, Kate Winslet, Kathy Baker, Talia Balsam (more)

Director(s) Steven Zallian

Writer(s) Steven Zaillian

Status In theaters (wide)

Genre(s) Dramas, Theatrical Release, Based On A Novel

Release Date Sept. 22, 2006

Running Time 120 minutes

MPAA Rating PG-13 - for an intense sequence of violence, sexual content and partial nudity.

Review:

All the King's Men feels like it should be a top caliber Oscar worthy movie. It has an all star cast and heavy subject matter. For some reason though it just doesn't work. The movie feels overly pompous and has a need to remind us, mostly through overly dramatic music, that it is in fact an important movie. Most of the movies points are beat into the audiences head so much so that there is very little thought required to watch or understand. The acting is all over the place. Some actors have incredibly heavy accents while others, like Kate Winslet and Anthony Hopkins, have none whatsoever. Jude Law's southern accent is extremely difficult to buy, he just doesn't pull of the southern speak at all. Sean Penn's Willie Stark comes off more as a raving mad man/mentally disabled person than a charismatic firebrand. The movies direction is sporadic and spoon feeds the audience instead of trusting the audience's intelligence. The movie moves along a predictable pace and the "twist" are terribly obvious. Sadly, this movie is just a mess and ultimately a waste of talent.

D-